‘Iran must eliminate nuclear enrichment & weaponization,’ White House envoy Witkoff says, reversing earlier remarks

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff emphasized on Tuesday that any diplomatic agreement with the Iranian regime must include the elimination of its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, reversing his earlier comments.

Witkoff had told Fox News on Monday that President Donald Trump was only seeking to limit Iran's uranium enrichment to 3.67%, which significantly differs from comments made by other Trump administration officials, as well as Israel’s demands.

After much criticism in recent days, Witkoff clarified in a post on 𝕏: “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East – meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”

“A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East -- meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program. It is imperative for…

— Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) April 15, 2025

He added: “It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”

Witkoff’s statement was underlined by State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, who reiterated, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, or an enrichment program.”

The first round of discussions about a potential agreement over Iran’s nuclear deal was held last Saturday in Oman and was described by both sides as positive.

Today, the @statedeptspox says #Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or an enrichment program. This is good. She also keeps focusing on Witkoff's tweet today and seeks to pivot away from and deemphasize the Fox News interview from last night. pic.twitter.com/PApnFjoPL6

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) April 15, 2025

The next round of talks is scheduled for this Saturday and will reportedly be held in Oman again, despite several reports indicating that the U.S. had favored a meeting in Rome, Italy.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, described the first session as “satisfactory” during a meeting with high-ranking officials on Tuesday, the news outlet Axios reported.

Khamenei said he is “neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic” about the talks with the U.S. while emphasizing he is “very skeptical of the other party, but confident in our own capabilities.”

Also, on Tuesday, a spokesman for the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) stressed that any potential agreement would not touch Iran’s military abilities.

“National security and defense and military power are among the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which cannot be discussed or negotiated under any circumstances,” the spokesman was quoted in state media.

This appeared to be a response to other comments made by Witkoff on Fox News. He said the next round of talks would involve discussions regarding “verification on the enrichment program and then ultimately verification on weaponization. That includes missiles – the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb.”

It is not known whether Witkoff’s tougher statement on Tuesday came before or after a high-level meeting of Trump's top national security and foreign policy officials that same day.

According to Axios, the meeting was held in the White House Situation Room and aimed to formulate a U.S. position for next Saturday’s meeting.

Before the meeting, Trump called the Sultan of Oman, who is acting as a mediator in the talks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump “emphasized to the Omani Sultan the need for Iran to end its nuclear program through negotiations.”

The White House meeting was attended by Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, State Secretary Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other security officials.

Axios reported that the Trump administration is currently split on its strategy regarding Iran, with Witkoff and Vance favoring diplomacy and being ready to compromise, while others, including Rubio and Waltz, are said to support a “maximalist approach” in the talks.